Parliamentary Elections 2011

For Russia 2012 was a turbulent year. Presidential votes and a re-launched opposition movement drew thousands of protesters and counter-protesters - not to mention Pussy Riot’s cathedral performance splitting the public even further.

Organizers of the government-sanctioned protest rally “For Fair Elections” on February 4 have decided who will address the crowd on Saturday and worked out a draft resolution that is expected to be adopted at the event.

The beard of Russia’s Central Election Commission head occupied an unusually large place in Duma discussions Friday, as Vladimir Churov spoke on alleged violations in December’s election. He had promised to shave, should Russia hold an unfair vote.

The main result of the December parliamentary poll is that all Russia’s political parties are now unanimous in their willingness to push for further democratic reform of the electoral system, says the head of the PACE observer mission, Tini Koks.

Almost 100 people have been charged with civil offences linked to violations of the December 4 parliamentary election, according to a preliminary report submitted to the president by the prosecutor general.

The founder of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi, Vasiliy Yakemenko, has said that officials will have to take into account the demands of street protesters, who he describes as restless fans of social media who are searching for self-realization.